Ice tray grid



Dec. 23, 1941.

- R. CARNEY ICE TRAY GRID Filed June 24,. 1940- INVENTOR 4M, QM)

ATTORNEYS- Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to an ice tray grid construction for use in a refrigerator ice tray. The grid construction of the present invention is intended to be used with trays or pans in domestic refrigerators to provide a desired quantity of frozen ice cubes which may be easily removed from the tray.

The objects of the present invention are:

First, to provide an ice tray grid which upon actuation will readily release ice cubes frozen between the various compartments of the grid member, the said grid being of a simplified construction and readily adapted for large scale manufacture on a production basis.

Second, to provide an ice tray grid of simplified construction which is economical to manufacture,

eficient in its operation, and which is rugged and.

7 of a plurality of rigid members which are connected together to provide for limited movement of all members of the grid relative to each other for the purpose ofbreaking the frozen bond between the surfaces of the ice cubes and the adjacent surfaces of the grid members and the pan and in which the actuating lever and force applying members are an integral part of the grid structure.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of an ice tray having placed therein a grid embodying the present invention. This view shows the respective parts of the grid in the positions which they occupy when the tray and grid are frozen with ice cubes therein or just prior to the freezing of water contained therein.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the di- ,rection of the arrows.

Fig. 4'is a fragmentary top plan view showing the operating lever and connected parts of the grid shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the relative position of the parts of the grid upon the 5 not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Fig. l, the ice tray and grid of the present invention is shown in a refrigerator pan or tray H) which may be of any desired conventional construction. The grid structure to which the present invention particularly relates comprises a plurality of longitudinal members H which in the present instance are three in number. It is to be understood, however, that any desired \number of such members maybe employed so long as the number is three or more. The long'itudinal members H are provided with inclined end portions l2 which extend to points adjacent to the ends of the ice tray l0 and divide the tray III are a plurality of transverse members l3 which extend across the width of the pan l0 and serve to divide the pan l0 into a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse chambers. In the present preferred embodiment of the invention, four of the members l3 are provided in the grid and divide the tray I0 into five transverse chambers. Thus, the grid construction of the present invention, when utilizing three longitudinal members II and four transverse members l3, provides for dividing the contents, of the pan l0 into twenty separate cubes.

The longitudinal members H and the transverse members |3 are connected to permit relative movement of the longitudinal members relative to the transverse members l3 and relative to each other and likewise to provide for relative movement of the transverse members l3 relative to the longitudinal members I I and relative to the other of the transverse members l3. One form completion of movement intended to break the of suitable connection between the transverse members I3 and the longitudinal members Ii is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. As here shown, a plurality of pierced slots It is provided in each of the longitudinal members II. The slots It in the central longitudinal member are preferably larger than the slots It in the other longitudinal members. Each of the longitudinal members II is also provided with a plurality of cut-away portions I5. In the embodiment here shown the cut-away portions I5 are provided adjacent the top longitudinal edge of each of the longitudinal members II and the pierced openings It are provided adjacent the lower edge of each of the members II but are spaced slightly therefrom so that the lower edge of each of the members II forms a continuous unbroken line which contacts the bottom of the pan or tray I throughout its length. As shown in Fig. 2, each of the transverse members I3 is provided with inclined slotted portions I6 and I I and a substantially vertically extending centrally located slot I8. The slots I6, [7 and I8 are so shaped and arranged that the centrally disposed longitudinal member II will be held in the central seat I8 :in a substantially vertical position relative to the pan Ill and the side longitudinal members II will be held in the slots I6 and I1 and in a position inclined slightly from the vertical, preferably in such a direction that the top surfaces of each of the side longitudinal members II will incline toward the centrally placed longitudinal member II.

The transverse members I3 are each provided with lugs I9 which are pressed through the openings It provided in the longitudinal members II. The lugs I8 and I9 when pressed through the openings I4 in each of the members I I, serve to lock the longitudinal members II and the transverse members I3-in their assembled positions, while permitting a free relative movement of the transverse members I3 relative to the longitudinal members II.

At the same time the slots I in the top edges of the longitudinal members I I' permit the transverse members I3 to occupy an angularly inclined position, as for example shown in Fig. 3. This construction, it will be noted, also permits relative movement of the longitudinal members II relative to each other as well as to thetransverse members I3 and also permits independent movement of the transverse members I3 relative to each other as well as relative to the longitudinal members It.

Before describing the operation of a grid embodying the present invention, it will be assumed that a tray I0 is provided with a grid consisting of the longitudinal members It and the transverse members I3 which occupy t e positions shown in Fig. l, and that water has been placed therein and frozen to form ice cubes in the compartments defined by the adjacent walls of the pan Ill, the longitudinal members II and the transverse members I3. When frozen in this position, relative movement of the longitudinal members II relative to each other and of the transverse members I3 relative to each other, and the movement of the longitudinal members II and the transverse members I 3 relative to each other, breaks the surface adhesion between the ice cubes and the adjacent walls of the pan 1c, the longitudinal member's II and the transverse members I3 and permits ready removal of the said cubes from the grid and the pan. This relative movement of the parts of the grid is accomplis'hed by actuation of the operating handle central longitudinal member II.

sno in -o 2! which is pivotally mounted in such a manner that each of'the ends thereof is mounted for rotation in journal openings provided in the side longitudinally extending members II. The journal openings provided in the side longitudinal members II are aligned in a transverse direction when the tray and grid occupies the relative position shown in Fig. 1. The central longitudinal member II is provided with a' U-shaped slot 22 which is adapted to receive and be contacted by a central portion 23 of the cam shaft ZI. As here shown the slot 22 is provided at a point which-is normally in advance of the transverse line on which the cam shaft ZI is journaled in the side longitudinally extending members ii. The raising of the handle 29 in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 5, thus causes rotation of the cam shaft 2i in the journals pro vided in the side longitudinal members II. Ihe points of pivotal connection between the cam shaft 2i and the side longitudinal members it act as a fulcrum about which the handle 2G moves as the actuating arm of the lever system is thus set in motion. This pivotal movement of the handle 20 causes a force to be exerted by the cam portion 23 of the cam shaft 2I in the slot 22 provided in the central longitudinally extending member II and this force causes movement of said central longitudinal member I I relative to said side longitudinal members I I and in a direction extending longitudinally of the tray Ill. As the handle 20 is moved from the folded position of Fig. l to the elevated position of Fig.

5 the cam portion 23 also exerts a force in downward direction on the slot 22 provided in the As this force "is exerted through the cam 23 to the central longitudinal member II, the cam shaft 2| transmits the force to the connected side longitudinal members II and causes a movement of said members in a generally vertical direction which causes them to be elevated to the position shown in Fig. 5 where one end of each of the side members II is moved angularly in an upward direction relative to the bottom of tray Ill.

The above described movement of the central longitudinal member II is thereafter transmitted to each of the transverse members I3 and causes each of the members l3 to be moved from its angularly inclined position, shown in Fi 3, to a relatively more vertical position shown in Fig. 5.

It is to be understood in connection with the operation of devices of this type that a very slight movement is all that is required to break the adhesion between surfaces of the ice cubes and the adjacent surfaces of the tray Hi, the

longitudinal grids II and the transverse grids It; This amount of movement is provided in the .pi'eseht structure by spacing the ends of the longitudinal members II a slight distance from the inner surfaces of the ends of the pan Ill. This permits the relative movement of the central longitudinal member II which has previously been discussed. i

As the handle 20 is actuated and the central longitudinal member II is moved lengthwise of the grid relative to the other longitudinal members, the lugs I9 of the transverse members I3 move in the enlarged slots It in the central longitudinal member II. The edges 30 defining the slots I5 in the central longitudinal member II engage the adjacent faces of the transverse members I3 and move them longitudinally in the 20 which is connected to an operating cam shaft direction 'of movement of the central member. The slots I4 formed in the outside longitudinal ing-positions towards the vertical position to release ice.

Upon movement of the transverse members l3 toward the positions occupied in Fig. 5, there is a pivotal movement of each transverse member l3 about the lugs I9 in the openings I4 provided in the longitudinal members ll. As this pivotal movement continues a camming action is exerted by the slots l6 and H on the longitudinal members II which extend therethrough since the upper edges of the front inclined transverse members l3 are moved in an arc, the center of which is the point of pivotal connection between the lower edges of the transverse members l3 and the longitudinal members ll. Due to this arcuate movement of the top surfaces of r the transverse members l3, the upper edges of the side longitudinal members H are moved outwardly relative to the central longitudinal member II and are caused to assume a more nearly vertical position than that shown in Fig. 2. This effects a further breaking or shearingaction between the adjacent surfaces of the longitudinal members II and the ice cubes frozen therein.

As the handl 20 is moved to its fully raised position, as shown in Fig. 5, a force is exerted through the longitudinal members H on one end of the pan l and this together withthe eleva-. tion of the opposite ends of the side longitudinal members previously described elevates the entire grid structure angularly relative to the pan it and completes the ice freeing action.

From the foregoing itwill be seen that I have provided a novel ice tray grid structure in which relative movement of the structural members forming the gridisinitiated and controlled by actuation of the handlegll. Due to the multiplication of forces applied to the handl 2d, through the cam 23 an the integral parts of the grid-structure operating as a lever system, a

relatively small force on the handle 20 is all that is required to actuate the grid members as above described to effect the;release of ice cubes therefrom. As previously described, it will be seen that pivotal movement of the handle 20 causes relative movement between the longitudinal members H and between the longitudinal members II and the transverse members 13. It will also be seen that each of the transverse members I3 is moved relative to ach other and relative to the longitudinal members II and that the entire grid structure is moved as a unit relative to the tray Ill. Thus 'it will be seen that all of the connected parts of the grid member are moved according to a predetermined sequence corrosion when in contact with water. The pan or tray I0 is likewise preferably formed of a thermally conductive metal or metallic alloy which if of a corrodible character is suitably treated to prevent corrosion when brought in contact with water. If the material used in the construction of the pan and grid is of; aluminum or an aluminum alloy, it is preferably treated to form a hard surface coating consisting chiefly of aluminum oxide. This surface thereafter is impregnated with a suitable high melting wax,

such for example as carnauba wax. By the provision of the oxide coating on the aluminum or the aluminum alloy and the impregnation of this coating with the high melting wax, the force required for the breaking of the grid structure from the ice cubes is greatly diminished since the adhesion of the surfaces of the ice cubes to surfaces of the pan and grid so treated is less than the adhesion of such cubes to surfaces which have not been so treated.

I claim: f

1. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of longitudinal separator members and a plurality of transverse members hingedly connected to the longitudinal members to provide a unitary structure in which a plurality of said longitudinal separator members are movable in opposite directions relative to each other and to said transverse members, and said transverse members are movable relative to said longitudinal separator tudinal members are movable relative to each other and to said transverse members and said of. motion when the said handle 20 is actuated to move the members and break the ice cubes therefrom. It will also'be seen that th grid structure of the present invention is positive in its operation and is at the same time of a simplified construction which readily lends'itself to a large scale production on a commercial basis.

The structural members forming the grid of the present invention; may "be formed of any members and relative to each other, and motion transmitting means including a pivotal connection with a plurality of longitudinal members and a cam connection with another longitudinal separator member for effecting relative longitudinal movement of said members to break adhesion between the adjacent surfaces of said grid and ice cubes frozen therein.

2. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of longitudinal separator members and a plurality of transverse members hingedly connected to provide a unitary structure in which the longitransverse members are movable relative to said longitudinal members and relative to each other, and means for effecting the relative movement of said members to break adhesion between the adjacent surfaces of said grid and ice cubes frozen therein, and including a handle having aligned pivotal connections with at least two longitudinal separator members and a cam movable in a slot provided in a third longitudinal separator member, said slot being out of alignment with said ,aligned pivotal connections whereby said third longitudinal separator member is moved relative to said two longitudinal separator members an said movement is transmitted to said plurality of transverse members.

3. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of longitudinal members and a plurality of transverse members hingedly connected to the longirelative to each other, and means including a handle having aligned pivots in a plurality of longitudinal members and a cam movably mounted in a slot formed in another longitudinal member to apply forces thereto sufficient to effect movement of all of said members and break ad- :hesion between the adjacent surfaces of said grid and ice cubes frozen therein, said grid comprising three or more longitudinal members, one of which is connected with each of said transverse members and maintained in a substantially vertical plane and the others of which are connected with each of said transverse members and maintained in planes inclined from the vertical.

4. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of longitudinal members and a plurality of transverse members hingedly connected to provide a unitary structure-in which the longitudinal members are movable relative to each other and to said transverse members and said transverse members are movable relative to said longitudinal members and relative to each other, and means for eifecting the relative movement of said members comprising a handle having aligned pivots in a plurality of longitudinal members and a cam movably mounted in a slot formed in another longitudinal member to break adhesion between the adjacent surfaces of said grid and ice cubes frozen therein, said grid comprising three or more longitudinal members, one of which is movable longitudinally relative'to two or more longitudinal members and is connected with each of said transverse members and maintained in a substantially vertical plane and two of which are connected with each of said transverse members and maintained in planes inclined from the vertical, the lower edges of said longitudinal members being spaced transversely of the pen a greater distance than are the upper edges thereof.

5. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of longitudinal members and transverse members connected to provide a unitary structure in which all of said members are movable relative 'to each other and to the other of said members, and means for, effecting movement of said connected members and including a handle pivotally connected with a plurality of said longitudinal members and adapted when raised to move said plurality of longitudinal members vertically and longitudinally relative to another longitudinal member and relative to said transverse members, said longitudinal movement effecting movement of said transverse members relative to each other and relative to said longitudinal members to break the adhesion between the surfaces of said members and ice cubes frozen thereto.

6. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of longitudinal members and transverse members connected to provide a unitary structure in which all of said members are movable relative to each other and to the other of said members, and means for effecting movement of said connected members and including a handle pivotally connected with a plurality of said longitudinal members and adapted when raised to move another of said longitudinal members relative to said plurality of longitudinal members and relative to said transverse members, saidv movement effecting movement of said transverse members relative to each other and relative to said longitudinal members to break the adhesion between the surfaces of said members and ice cubes frozen thereto, said transverse members having slots therein adapted to permit the extension of said longitudinal members therethrough and having hinge connections with said longitudinal members adjacent the bottom edges thereof.

7. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of longitudinal members and transverse members connected to provide a unitary structure in which all of said members are movable relative to each other and to the other of said members, and

means for effecting movement of said connected members and including a handle pivotally connected with said longitudinal members and adapted when raised to move said longitudinal members longitudinally relative to each other and relative to said transverse members, said movement effecting movement of said transverse members relative to each other and relative to said longitudinal members to break the adhesion between the surfaces of said members and ice cubes frozen thereto, said transverse members having slots therein adapted to permit the extension of said longitudinal members therethrough and having hinge connections with said longitudinal members adjacent the bottom edges thereof; said slots including a central slot extending in a substantially vertical plane and slots disposed on each side of said central slot and angularly inclined from the vertical.

8. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of longitudinal members and transverse members connected to provide a unitary structure in which all of said members are movable relative to each other and to the other of said members, and means for eifecting movement of said connected members and including a handle pivotally connected with said longitudinal members and adapted when raised to move said longitudinal members vertically relative to each other and relative to said transverse members, said movement effecting movement of said transverse members relative to each other and relative to said longitudinal members to break the adhesion between the surfaces of said members and ice cubes frozen thereto, said transverse members having a series of slots therein adapted to permit the extension of said longitudinal members therethrough and providing a support for maintaining said longitudinal members in predetermined positions, said transverse members each having a hinge connection with each of said longitudinal members at points adjacent the bottom edges thereof, said slots including a central slot extending in a substantially vertical plane and a slot disposed on each side of said central slot and inclined angularly from the vertical, the lower ends of said side slots being spaced a greater distance from the central slot than are the upper ends of said side slots.

9. An ice tray grid comprising a plurality of longitudinal separator members and transverse members connected to provide a unitary structure in which all of said transverse members are movable relative to each other and relative to said longitudinal members to break the adhesion between the surfaces of said members and ice cubes frozen thereto, means for effecting relative movement of said members including a handle having aligned pivotal connections with at least two longitudinal separator members and a movable connection with a central longitudinal separator member, the connection with the central longitudinal member being out of alignment with the pivotal connections between said two longitudinal membersat said handle whereby movement of said handle effects a movement of 'said central member relative to said two longi- Dec. 23, 1941. c. R. CARNEY ICE TRAY GRID Filed June 24, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVENTOR 6 (4771651.

M1, (MM 2 ATTORNEYS. 

